Shoe Heel With Shock Absorbent Feature

ABSTRACT

A shock absorbent heel for a shoe includes: a heel seat portion configured so as to have a top surface configured to be attachable to a bottom portion of a shoe upper; a mid-heel portion formed of a cushioning material; a bottom heel portion, the mid heel portion being sandwiched between the heel seat portion and the bottom heel portion when the shock absorbent heel is in an assembled state; and a dowel. The dowel is arranged in a vertically extending dowel chamber in the shock absorbent heel. The dowel is configured to pass along vertically shocks caused by contact of the shock absorbent heel with the ground so that at least a portion of the shock is absorbed by the cushioning material of the mid heel portion.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims benefit under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/249,692, filed on Nov. 2, 2015, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to heels for shoes, such as high-heeled shoes.

2. Description of the Related Art

Heels for high-heeled shoes are typically made of rigid materials. While such materials provide a sturdy support, the lack of vertical flex in such a rigid structure transfers impact force from the heel hitting the ground to the wearer's body. This impact can cause immediate discomfort and, over time, may contribute to medical issues such as heel spurs or other impact related injuries, such as shin splints.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improvement of a heel for a shoe, such as a high-heeled shoe. In accordance with an aspect of the invention, the improvement includes providing, in the heel, a damping element to provide shock absorbent comfort to a wearer of the shoe incorporating the improved heel.

A heel for a shoe, having a heel seat portion having a first thickness in the vertical direction and configured at a top surface to be attachable to a bottom portion of a shoe upper, and a first free end at a lower surface of the heel seat portion, the heel seat portion having a first chamber extending from an opening in the first free end of the lower surface a distance less than the first thickness; a mid-heel portion, having a second thickness in the vertical direction, the mid heel portion configured to have a top surface attachable to the first free end at the lower surface of the heel seat portion, and a second free end at a lower surface of the mid heel portion, the mid heel portion having a passageway extending completely therethrough, the mid heel portion comprising a cushioning material; and a bottom heel portion, having a third thickness in the vertical direction, the mid heel portion being sandwiched between the heel seat portion and the bottom heel portion when the heel is in an assembled state, the bottom heel portion having a top surface configured to attach to the second free end at the lower surface of the mid heel portion, and a third free end at a lower surface of the bottom heel portion, the bottom heel portion having a second chamber extending vertically from an opening in the top surface of a distance less than the third thickness. The shoe heel further includes a dowel arranged in a dowel chamber in the heel, the dowel chamber comprising: (a) the first chamber in the heel seat portion, (b) the passageway in the mid heel portion, and (c) the second chamber in the bottom heel portion arranged end to end, the dowel having a diameter such that, in the assembled state of the heel, the dowel contacts sidewalls of the dowel chamber over at least a portion of the extent of the dowel chamber, and contacts the sidewall over the entire vertical extent of the passageway in the mid heel portion, wherein the dowel is configured to communicate a walking force from the bottom heel portion to the cushioning material of the mid heel portion.

Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood, however, that the drawings are designed solely for purposes of illustration and not as a definition of the limits of the invention, for which reference should be made to the appended claims. It should be further understood that the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale and that, unless otherwise indicated, they are merely intended to conceptually illustrate the structures and procedures described herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention and the technical environment are explained below with reference to the figures. It is to be noted that the figures show particularly preferred variant embodiments of the invention, but is not however restricted to them. The same components in the figures are here given the same reference signs. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a shoe according to the present invention, showing a heel attached;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the shoe heel of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a heel seat portion of the heel, with the heel seat shown separated from the other layers of the heel;

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of a free end of the heel seat portion of the heel, showing the entrance to the upper chamber, with the heel seat shown separated from the other layers of the heel;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a mid-heel portion of the heel, showing the entrance to the passage for the dowel, with the mid heel portion shown separated from the other layers of the heel;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the bottom heel portion of the heel, showing the entrance to the lower chamber, with the bottom heel portion shown separated from the other layers of the heel;

FIG. 7 is a bottom plan view of a free end of the bottom heel portion of the heel, with the bottom heel portion shown separated from the other layers of the heel;

and

FIG. 8 is an elevation view of the stabilizing dowel, with the dowel shown separated from the other components of the heel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

As shown in FIGS. 1-8, a composite shoe heel is provided which includes a shock absorbing element disposed along an axis of the heel.

As can be seen, for example in FIGS. 1 and 2, a composite shoe heel 10 has a total length A, from the top of the heel to the bottom surface thereof. The shoe heel 10 includes a heel seat 12, a mid-heel 14, a bottom heel 16, a lift 18, a stabilizing dowel (“dowel”) 20 and a channel 30 in which the dowel is positioned.

The heel seat 12 has a top end that is positioned, when the heel is assembled as part of a shoe, against a bottom surface of a shoe upper 100, the shoe upper 100 being shown in phantom in FIG. 1, and a free end 12 a, positioned at the bottom of the heel seat 12. As seen, for example, in FIG. 2, the heel seat 12 also includes an upper chamber 22 configured to accept an upper portion of the dowel 20. The upper chamber 22 forms the upper portion of the chamber 30, shown in FIG. 1, in which the dowel 20 is arranged in the assembled heel 10. The entranceway into the upper chamber 22 is located in the free end 12 a of the heel seat 12, but the upper chamber 22 does not extend to the top surface of the heel seat 12.

Proceeding downward vertically, i.e., away from the shoe upper 100, the next layer/component of the heel 10 is a middle heel (or “mid heel”) portion 14 positioned so that its top surface is against the free end 12 a of the heel seat. The mid heel 14 is pierced over its entire vertical extent by a passage 24 for the dowel 20. This passage 24 forms a middle portion of the chamber 30 in which the dowel 20 is arranged in the assembled heel 10. Since the mid heel 14 is pierced entirely by the passage 24, entranceways are formed at both the top and bottom surface (end) of the mid heel 14 by the chamber 30 of which the passage 24 forms a part. In the assembled state, as can be seen in FIG. 1, the dowel 20 passes entirely through the mid heel 14. The mid heel 14 has a top surface, which is positioned against a bottom heel 16. As will be discussed in greater detail below, the mid heel 14 is formed of a cushioning material, such as, for example, foam rubber.

Proceeding downward vertically, the bottom heel portion 16 is arranged so as to have one (top) end positioned against the free end 14 a of the mid heel 14, when the heel 10 is assembled. The bottom heel portion 16 also includes a free end 16 a, positioned at the bottom of the bottom heel portion 16. The bottom heel portion 16 also includes a lower chamber 26 configured to accept a lower portion of the dowel 20. The lower chamber 26 forms the lower portion of the chamber 30, shown in FIG. 1, in which the dowel 20 is arranged in the assembled heel 10. The entranceway into the lower chamber 26 is located in the top surface (end) of the bottom heel portion 16. The lower chamber 26 does not extend to the free end 16 a.

Finally, at the lowest portion of the heel 10, i.e., the portion that contacts the ground, a lift (or cap) 18 is positioned on the free end 16 a of the bottom heel portion 16.

The heel seat 12 and bottom heel portion 16 are constructed of known shoe heel materials, such as plastic or wood (solid or laminated). The mid heel portion 14, sandwiched between the heel seat 12 and bottom heel portion 16, is thinner than either the heel seat 12 or bottom heel portion 16 and is constructed of a material having a dampening property, such as rubber, or a sponge-like plastic material.

As discussed above, a channel 30 is formed in the heel seat 12, the mid heel 14, and the bottom heel 16 components of the heel 10 and is oriented substantially parallel to the vertical axis of the heel, as shown, for example, in FIG. 1. The channel 30 has a length less than an overall heel length. The channel 30 extends within the heel seat 12, the mid heel 14 and the bottom heel portion 16 but, preferably, does not extend upwardly all the way to the bottom surface of the shoe upper 100 or downwardly all the way to the shoe lift 18.

The channel 30 is dimensioned and arranged to be able to receive the dowel 20. The dowel 20 is preferably made of metal, or other stiff material, such as carbon fiber, and preferably has a diameter such that the dowel 20 contacts the channel sides of the channel 30 passing through the mid heel.

To provide an indication of the distinction between the dowel 20 and the surrounding channel 30, in FIG. 1, the channel 30 is illustrated in that figure as if there is a small spacing between the walls of the channel 30 and the dowel 20. However, in actual use, the diameter of the dowel 20 would preferably be such that the dowel 20 contacts the channel sides, at least in a portion of the channel 30 in the passage 24.

Further, while the dowel 20 in FIG. 1 is shown as extending vertically substantially all the way from the top of the chamber 30 to the bottom of the chamber 30, the invention is not limited to this configuration. For example, a gap, or additional cushioning, can be provided between the top of the dowel 20 and the top of the chamber 30. Alternatively, or additionally, a gap, or additional cushioning, can be provided between the bottom of the dowel 20 and the bottom of the chamber 30.

In use, when a shock force is applied to the heel lift 18, such as during regular use, e.g., during walking, the force imparted by the ground to the bottom of the heel 10 will be transmitted to the dowel 20, and partially or fully absorbed by the mid heel portion 14, which is made of a cushioning material, and the passageway 24 of which contacts to the dowel 20 such that the shock force will be lessened or, most preferably, dissipate without being transferred to the wearer's foot.

In a preferred embodiment, the heel seat 12 and the mid heel 14 are initially formed with portions 22 and 24, respectively, of the channel 30 formed therein. The heel seat 12 will then be affixed to the bottom of the shoe upper 100, and the mid heel 14 will be aligned therewith along the channel portions 22 and 24.

Thereafter, one end of the dowel 20 is inserted through the mid heel 14 and into the upper chamber 22 of the heel seat 12, with the other end of the dowel 20 remaining exposed. Next, the lower chamber 26 of bottom heel portion 16 will be positioned over the exposed dowel portion and the bottom heel portion 16 moved in relation to the heel seat 12 and mid heel 14 to fully seat the exposed dowel end therein, whereupon the lift 18 can then be attached to the free end 16 a of the bottom heel portion 16. The components can be affixed to each other through various shoe-making techniques, such as glue.

In another embodiment, the components of the entire heel 10 can be pre-assembled and only then attached to the bottom of the shoe upper 100. For example, the dowel 20 can be inserted into the portion of the channel 30 of the heel seat 12 (namely the upper chamber 22), and then the mid heel 14 and bottom heel 16 assembled over the exposed dowel end by fitting the dowel 20 through the passage 24 of the mid heel 14 and into the lower chamber 26 of the bottom heel 16. Thereafter, the lift 18 can be secured to the assembled combination of the heel seat 12, mid heel 14 and bottom heel 16, and then the assembled heel 10 can be fitted and secured to the bottom of the shoe.

It should be appreciated that the heel can be assembled in a modular fashion, such that, for example, when assembling a number of heels, each of the heel seat components 12, mid heel components 14 and bottom heel components 16 are pre-drilled with the respective portion of the channel 30 so that the components of several heels 10 can be quickly and easily assembled with the dowel 20, and the pieces secured together to form plural completed heels 10.

FIGS. 3 to 7 are plan views of the individual components of the heel 10, shown in an unassembled state. FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a heel seat portion 12 of the heel 10, with the heel seat 12 shown separated from the other layers of the heel 10. FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the free end 12 a of the heel seat 12 of the heel 10, showing the entrance to the upper chamber 22, with the heel seat 12 again shown separated from the other layers of the heel 10.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a side of the mid heel portion 14 of the heel 10, showing the entrance to the passage 24 for the dowel, with the mid heel portion 14 shown separated from the other layers of the heel 10. Since both the upper and lower sides of the mid heel 14 have an identical appearance, only one exemplary side of the mid heel is shown. FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the bottom heel portion 16 of the heel 10, showing the entrance to the lower chamber 26, with the bottom heel portion 16 shown separated from the other layers of the heel.

FIG. 7 is a bottom plan view of the free end 16 a of the bottom heel portion 16 of the heel 10, with the bottom heel portion 16 shown separated from the other layers of the heel. FIG. 8 is an elevation view of the stabilizing dowel 20, with the dowel 20 shown separated from the other components of the heel.

In an exemplary configuration, the dowel 20 extends into the upper chamber 22 of the passage 30 such that the dowel 20 sets about one half inch below the top surface of the heel seat 12, and extends into the lower chamber 26 of the passage 30 such that the dowel 20 sets about one quarter inch above the lift 18. As discussed above, the dowel 20 passes completely through the mid heel 14, via the passage 24 portion of the channel 30.

The mid heel 14, which provides the cushioning effect in cooperation with the dowel 20, can be made of any soft, rubber-like material that has a good memory and longevity. For example, plastic foam cushioning materials, such as those made from polystyrene (PS), polyurethane (PU) and polyethylene (PE), can be utilized, as well as cloud, rubber, silicone, or other appropriate materials that will provide cushioning.

Thus, while there have been shown and described and pointed out fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the devices illustrated, and in their operation, may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, it is expressly intended that all combinations of those elements and/or method steps which perform substantially the same function in substantially the same way to achieve the same results are within the scope of the invention. Moreover, it should be recognized that structures and/or elements and/or method steps shown and/or described in connection with any disclosed form or embodiment of the invention may be incorporated in any other disclosed or described or suggested form or embodiment as a general matter of design choice. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the claims appended hereto. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A heel for a shoe, comprising: a heel seat portion having a first thickness in the vertical direction and configured at a top surface to be attachable to a bottom portion of a shoe upper, and a first free end at a lower surface of the heel seat portion, the heel seat portion having a first chamber extending from an opening in the first free end of the lower surface a distance less than the first thickness; a mid-heel portion, having a second thickness in the vertical direction, the mid heel portion configured to have a top surface attachable to the first free end at the lower surface of the heel seat portion, and a second free end at a lower surface of the mid heel portion, the mid heel portion having a passageway extending completely therethrough, the mid heel portion comprising a cushioning material; a bottom heel portion, having a third thickness in the vertical direction, the mid heel portion being sandwiched between the heel seat portion and the bottom heel portion when the heel is in an assembled state, the bottom heel portion having a top surface configured to attach to the second free end at the lower surface of the mid heel portion, and a third free end at a lower surface of the bottom heel portion, the bottom heel portion having a second chamber extending vertically from an opening in the top surface of a distance less than the third thickness; and a dowel arranged in a dowel chamber in the heel, the dowel chamber comprising: (a) the first chamber in the heel seat portion, (b) the passageway in the mid heel portion, and (c) the second chamber in the bottom heel portion arranged end to end, the dowel having a diameter such that, in the assembled state of the heel, the dowel contacts sidewalls of the dowel chamber over at least a portion of the extent of the dowel chamber, and contacts the sidewall over the entire vertical extent of the passageway in the mid heel portion, wherein the dowel is configured to communicate a walking force from the bottom heel portion to the cushioning material of the mid heel portion.
 2. The heel according to claim 1, further comprising: a lift having a top surface configured to be attachable to the third free end of the bottom heel portion and a lower surface configured to contact the ground in the assembled state of the heel.
 3. The heel according to claim 1, wherein the cushioning material comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of: polystyrene (PS), polyurethane (PU), polyethylene (PE), cloud, rubber and silicone.
 4. The heel according to claim 1, wherein the dowel is made at least part of metal.
 5. The heel according to claim 1, wherein, in the assembled state of the, the dowel contacts the sidewalls of the dowel chamber over the entire length of the dowel chamber.
 6. The heel according to claim 1, wherein, in the assembled state, the dowel contacts the sidewalls of the dowel chamber over only a portion of the entire length of the dowel chamber.
 7. The heel according to claim 6, wherein at least one portion of the dowel chamber in which the dowel does not contact the sidewalls of the dowel chamber is filled with cushioning material.
 8. The heel according to claim 7, wherein the at least one portion of the dowel chamber in which the dowel does not contact the sidewalls of the dowel chamber is at an upper end of the dowel chamber and/or at a lower end of the dowel chamber.
 9. The heel according to claim 1, wherein the vertical extent of the dowel chamber is less than a height of the heel.
 10. The heel according to claim 1, wherein the first and third thickness are each greater than the second thickness.
 11. The heel according to claim 1, wherein the heel seat portion and the bottom heel portion are made from at least one material selected from the group consisting of plastic and wood.
 12. The heel according to claim 1, wherein the heel seat portion is affixed to the mid heel portion by glue, and the mid heel portion is affixed to the bottom heel portion by glue. 